International projectionist (Jan-Dec 1954)

flexibility which had long been desired but never attained with previous types of lamps. The accompanying chart (Table I) illustrates the flexibility of these modern lamps and shows the few simple changes needed to cover the range of operation. Control Settings Enormously Simplified As stated previously, these increases in flexibility have not compromised the ease of operation of these new Strong Lamps. As a matter of fact, the control settings necessary to attain the various adjustments through the increased range have been simplified. Only one control is required for selecting any amperage within the range of the particular mode of operation. While the 1 Kw and low-intensity had only one control, the burning range was strictly limited to 1.1 and 1.3:1 ratio. Although the Suprex lamps afforded a comparatively wide burning rate ratio, the operation was complicated by the necessity of adjusting two separate carbon feed rate controls. This simplification of control was made possible by Strong's development of a bimetal control tube. This Lightronic tube controls the carbon feeding rates so as to automatically hold the carbon crater at the exact focal point of the reflector at all times. By this control of the positive and negative motor feed speeds the arc can be burned without constant attention by the operator. Unique Simplification of Controls With the new screen presentation techniques further complicating the job of the projectionist, he has been particularly appreciative of the simplified control of these new Strong lamps. The projectionist, furthermore, is quick to see the advantages of the unitized component design which affords such wide versatility in these lamps. He can in a matter of moments and right in his projection room effect the simple changes necessary to attain the correct light requirement for any of the various screen presentation techniques. It is even possible for him to quickly and easily obtain the light requirements for two different types of techniques on the same program, even though there is a 60% difference between their light requirements. Simultaneously with the widening in the flexibility of operation of these new arc lamps. Strong also designed rectifiers of correspondingly increased range. For example, the new Strong selenium rectifier has a range of from 90 to 135 amperes, which means that with a single piece of power conversion equipment the projectionist can fulfill the arc power requirements of the various systems of screen presentation. The Future of Theatre Tv By NATHAN L. HALPERN Theatre Network Television, Inc. Ir seems strange that the motion picture industry, painfully aware of the inroads upon its audience, has been slow to seize upon a simple method of turning the techniques of television to its own advantage and profit. This could be accomplished if more thought were devoted to the vast and unexplored possibilities of theatre Tv. In the last five years. Theatre Network Television has presented 69 closed-circuit telecasts of sporting and other events, but even now, despite the great success of the Rocky Marciano-Ezzard Charles heavyweight championship fight telecast, there still are theatre men who do not understand the possibilities of closed-circuit television. Cost Factor Vital for Network Tv Tv network executives fret over the tremendous cost of putting on quality shows without some method of easing the burden on advertisers by charging the listener a fee or some kind of "admission" charge. Closedcircuit theatre Tv can solve this problem for many types of shows and also put the motion picture exhibitor in a position to acquire new box-office revenue. It may be that the customer must leave his home in order to view a theatre Tv event, but it is also true that a much larger and more dramatic picture can be presented in the theatre than on the face of a comparatively small Tv tube. Furthermore, there is another use to which theatre Tv circuits and equipment can be put, offering a new and almost untouched field for the motion picture theatre. This is the practice of connecting sales meetings, conventions and similar gatherings at distant points by means of closed-circuit Tv, rather than by the customary but time-consuming and expensive process of gathering the interested parties from all over the country. This is what we call "Tele-Sessions." "Tele-Sessions" in a Phenominal Spurt An outstanding example of how Tele-Sessions can make wide use of theatre Tv equipment and motion picture auditoriums on a nation-wide basis is the coastto-coast sales meeting that we recently organized for the Dodge Division of the Chrysler Corp. Dodge dealers and salesmen in 29 cities were given a preview of the 1954 sales and advertising campaign. This program originated from television studios in New York and featured top Dodge executives in addition to Tv and radio personalities sponsored by the company. Another very successful telecast of this type was sponsored by National Dairy Products Co. This firm reasoned that if Tv was effective in selling customers on its product in the home, closed-circuit Tv in the theatre, aimed solely at its dealers and routemen, would be effective in selling them on the company's product. Produced by the Tele-Sessions division of TNT, this program originated in the Center Theatre in New York City and was piped to selected theatres in all Sealtest markets. It was a 1%-hours show which started at 10 A.M., used 12 sets and required about 100 crewmen and 50 performers. Soaring Craft Employment Possibility Tele-Sessions is a fast-growing business that can provide increased revenue for the motion picture theatre, help keep theatres open and increase job hours for projectionists and other technicians. This union (the lATSE) and its membership has always shown an awareness of the potential importance of theatre Tv, and their (Continued on page 46) 20 INTERNATIONAL PROJECTIONIST July 1954